The Department of Health and Aged Care is calling on people and organisations with large online followings to help save women’s lives by spreading the message about cervical screening.
Releasing a toolkit, the Department said the toolkit was designed to help spread the word about the importance of regular cervical screening and the new self-collect option.
“Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers,” the Department said.
“Most cervical cancers occur in women and people with a cervix who have never done cervical screening or do not screen regularly,” it said.
“Having regular screening tests is the best way to protect against cervical cancer.”
The Department said the new toolkit contained key messages, social media content, links to videos and animations, images and case studies.
It said that people wishing to make use of the new resources could use the case studies as they were or adapt and edit them for channels and outlets like email marketing and newsletters.
“Barriers may influence a patient in their decision or ability to participate in cervical screening,” the Department of Health said.
“They can relate to the patient, healthcare provider or the health system.”
It encouraged organisations, media and communication outlets, and other parties with large following/engagement to use the new toolkit.
“More than 70 per cent of Australians who develop cervical cancer have never had a cervical screening test or not regularly,” the Department said.
“Get the word out to as many people as possible about cervical screening – you can save lives!”
The Department’s Cervical Screening Program toolkit can be accessed at this PS News link.
